Sable Island Song (I)

DESCRIPTION: "On the stormy western ocean ... Lies a barren little island." The singer signs to be government caretaker, wear government clothes, chase "crazy horses" and "wild cattle," swallow inedible food: "Get off Sable Island Or you'll be crazy in a year"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1932 (Creighton - Nova Scotia)
KEYWORDS: work food ordeal animal
FOUND IN: Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Creighton-SongsAndBalladsFromNovaScotia 142, "Sable Island Song" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST RcSabIsl (Partial)
Roud #1838
RECORDINGS:
Omar Blondahl, "Sable Island" (on NFOBlondahl03)
NOTES [125 words]: Creighton-NovaScotia: "The author of this song is said to be one of the sons of the well-to-do in Halifax who was sent to Sable Island ... to be cured of his fondness for the cup."
Sable Island, Nova Scotia, about 23 miles long, is about 110 miles, at its nearest point, from the Nova Scotia coast.
Blondahl03 has no liner notes confirming that this song was collected in Newfoundland. Barring another report for Newfoundland I do not assume it has been found there. There is no entry for "Sable Island" in Newfoundland Songs and Ballads in Print 1842-1974 A Title and First-Line Index by Paul Mercer. - BS
The song in its current form, based on the information in Creighton, must be dated to 1904 or after, when Gordeau Park was founded. - (RBW, BS)
File: RcSabIsl

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